Hands-on with the ZAGGkeys FLEX

With tablets becoming increasingly popular, and the displays on Android devices not getting any smaller sitting down with the devices in an attempt to crank out a long email or type a report may not be ideal. With lots of bluetooth keyboard options on the market it makes it hard to decide which one to go with, and while preference will vary by each person ZAGG has brought a heavy hitter to the market with their ZAGGkeys FLEX Bluetooth keyboard.

This keyboard, unlike many of their others, is a universal Bluetooth keyboard so it doesn't limit the devices it works with, it won't require you to purchase a new keyboard if you get a new tablet, and if you wish to switch between your phone and tablet you are able to do that as well. In addition to the ability to connect with various devices like your new Samsung Galaxy Note and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 easily it also comes in a nice small and portable package, making it really easy to put it in your bag and carry it around with you. The FLEX is 90 percent of a full sized keyboard, so typing on it should be very comfortable and still feel rather natural to most.

One extremely notable feature about the keyboard, besides the size, is the fact that the battery on it only needs to be charged once about every four months. That is some amazing battery life, and you may be wondering how they can do it, and what you will need to do in order to achieve it. Well quiet simply -- nothing. The FLEX will automatically go into a standby mode after a few minutes in which it has not been used, and before you fret, all you have to do in order to use it again is hit a key, wait a second and then start typing again. If you are looking for a portable Bluetooth keyboard that does not limit you to use with only one device, you will definitely want to check out the ZAGGkeys FLEX Bluetooth keyboard. Hit the break for a few more images.

HzO shows us how you really waterproof a device

Let's just start this off by saying yes it is real, and no you can't just add it to any device. Now that we got that out of the way let's talk about the amazingness that HzO brought to us here at CES 2012. Walking around the tech floor I saw a display of some devices sitting underneath falling water like it was nothing, people were playing with the units, they were playing music and it was like everything was normal, wet but normal. Instantly I was intrigued and walked over and that is when it happened. Off came the battery door, SIM card and battery exposed and boom, there went his beloved Android device in the water like it was nothing, and thanks to HzO it is like nothing happened to the device, it remains fully functional with zero damage to any of the electronics.

So you are wondering how it works, right? Well unfortunately it isn't something that we (the consumer) can purchase to add on to an existing device, instead this coating has to be applied at the factory during production. The thin coating which they have named WaterBlock that is applied prevents water from coming in contact with the electronics and important parts inside the device, thus making it water resistant and giving you the ability to dunk it and not have to be worried. Unfortunately it doesn't appear as though there are many (if any) devices that are currently available with this product, but we can sure hope that the exposure from CES 2012 gets this installed on devices. Hit the break to check it all out in some video action.

Hands-on with the Octa WhaleTail & Vacuum Dock

Walking through the various halls here at CES 2012 you sure stumble across a whole bunch of different stuff, some things get a bit repetitive but sometimes there are things that just jump right out at you. While cruising through one of the halls I noticed a bunch of tablets all propped up without anyone holding them and I was immediately intrigued, then I met Octa WhaleTail and Vacuum Dock. While it is not specifically an Android only accessory it certainly works well on Android tablets, and for those of you who like to watch movies, play games, type long messages or anything else that you don't want your tablet laying down for you will want to check this out.

The concept is quite simple, they wanted to make holding a tablet a more enjoyable experience for everyone so they designed a holder that suctions to the back that contours the hand very nicely. To get the back to stick on the device all you have to do is put it on there, give it a few pumps and it's on there, and rather firmly. Releasing the piece is pretty simple (once you get the hang of it), pull up slightly on the two tabs and then push them in, and off it comes. Also included is the WhaleTail which hooks onto the back of the Vacuum Dock which allows the tablet to be propped up and it also doubles as a security measure for when you are carrying your tablet around so it doesn't just fall right out of your hands. Hit the break with us for a few more images as well as a video walkthrough of the product in action!

Hands-on with the SmartDock for the Xperia ion

I wasn't kidding when I said that this year's CES is all about connecting your entire home. Here, we have Sony's solution for its forthcoming Xperia ion. The SmartDock is a souped-up HDMI dock that will connect your ion to your TV, charge it, or turn it into a mini-computer when a keyboard and mouse are attached. Oh, what will they think of next?

Hands-on with the NFC-powered Xperia SmartTags

Connecting the entire home has been an ongoing trend here at CES, and Sony has introduced an interesting concept to acheive that goal. Xperia SmartTags are NFC chips that you can stick throughout your home and program with different actions and settings. When you enter the room and tap your phone to the SmartTags, your phone will automatically adjust to the profile you created. Pretty cool concept. They'll be released in Q2 for about $25-$40 for four tags and will be compatible with all NFC-capable Xperia devices -- take a gander below the break to see what Sony has to say about them.

JoyRide is a slick little car-dock app that pairs with a 12-volt charger. At its heart, JoyRide is a highly customizable car app. You can set what you want to happen when you plug in your phone -- say, launch Google Maps Nav. Or when you unplug your phone -- say, record your current positions so you can find your car later. Or, you can tell it what to do when you press the lighted button on the 12-volt charger -- say, direct you to the nearest In and Out burger. It's slick stuff, and it's built using the Android Open Accessories protocol that Google announced last May at Google IO -- one of the first accessories we've seen to do so.

Then there's the Tag system. It's a smart key fob that will help you keep track of your keys, laptop, children or pets -- anything you attach it to. Separate the two, and you're alerted either on the phone, or the fob, depending on which one you lost. The companion app is nicely done and full of features, and it all costs about $60. Money well spent.

Hands-on with the Kogeto iCONIC for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Only just a few days ago we learned that Kogeto, the maker of a panoramic lens for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S was planning on announcing their iCONIC lens which was being made for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The software is not fully finished for the Galaxy Nexus as of now so we did have to jump on the iPhone to show how the application functions and exactly what you can expect.

As you can see the device is actually a case that clips on the back of the device and once the application is launched you can begin to record. Once the recording begins you lay the device flat and sit back while it captures 360 degrees of video. After you are finished recording you can watch the application or share it to your favorite social network where your friends and family can share the same 360-degree view that you captured. Hit the break for a few more images and a video demo.

Hands-on with Motorola's Televation

Motorola made it clear before CES even kicked off that this year's focus would be on connecting your entire home, or "staying unplugged." This morning we got a look at Motorola's approach to making live television accesible in every room: Televation.

It's a handy little system that differs a bit from what we've seen from other manufacturers: instead of streaming content from your main TV, Televation brings cable subscription right to your Xoom or Xyboard tablet. That means that you'll be able to choose what show you want to watch directly from your tablet, as your device will have its own dedicated cable feed. Everything is wireless, and it'll work as long as you've got a WiFi connection. It's built for Moto tablets, but big M says that it's working on making the system available on different manufacturer's device.

If you're still hooked on live TV and prefer appointment viewing to Netflix, Hulu, and DVR, this might be what you've been waiting for.

Seagate and Verizon introduce LTE enabled wireless storage

Seagate and Verizon will show off an LTE enabled wireless storage device today at CES. As part of the GoFlex Satellite line, the device not only allows network streaming and storage via Wifi, but with LTE enabled users can download content directly to the device or use it as a hot-spot for up to three other devices.

This sounds like the perfect companion for your Wifi only Android tablet on those long road trips. We'll drop by and have a closer look to get all the details. The press release is after the break.

Kogeto brings panoramic video to Android with the iCONIC

We've seen our fair share of camera enhancements over the past years, but most of them seem to focus on the still camera end instead of the video camera, until Kogeto. At CES Kogeto is planned to officially announce the Kogeto iCONIC which is an attachment that allows the device to capture panoramic video. Unfortunately the iCONIC is releasing initially for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and more devices to follow, as long as they capture 1080P video. Previously only available for the Apple iPhone it is great to see the expansion, and we look to getting our hands-on time with one of these in Las Vegas!

Cobra bringing more Android-related accessories into vehicles at CES

Cobra Electronics, probably best known for its radar detectors and vehicle security systems, is bringing a couple new pieces of Android kit to CES next week in Las Vegas.

First up is the Cobra Tag G5. It's an improvement on what you see above -- a "smart" key fob with companion app that connects to your phone via Bluetooth. If they get too far away from each other, an alarm sounds. It uses the new Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy (BLE) standard for an expected life of at least six months when connected to a phone. (Ed note: Whoa.)

And then there's the Cobra JoyRide for Android. It pairs up Cobra's charging accessory and is basically a car mode app. It'll initiate phone calls or voice commands, share road hazard information and live police info, serve as a music app and launch other applications.

It's not just Google TV ... it's LG's 3D Google TV

Just when we thought we were done with the 3D thing, LG and Google TV drag us back in. Google announced LG as a new Google TV partner today, and LG responded with its own release that shows us the TV you see above. Looks like it's got a tweaked version of the UI we're currently enjoying with Honeycomb on GTV. And the display itself uses the kind of 3D glasses that don't have to be plugged in. (Aka the lesser of two evils.)

LG's TV will come with a "Magic Remote Qwerty," which we assume is code for a keyboard/remote combo. We'll get our first real look first thing Monday morning. Be sure to join us.

Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire getting their own docking stations in February

Some interesting accessory news coming out of the Interwebs for the recently released Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire today. The folks over at Readerdock have come up with some pretty sweet looking new docks for both devices which they're due to launch in February.

The "N-Station" will also be compatible with the Nook Color, hardly surprising given they're practically identical, and will come complete with a pair of speakers and a charging port and will hold the device at various angles.

The "Firestation" is the similiarly featured version designed for the Kindle Fire. Both will be available to pre-order some time this month, being due to commence shipping in mid-February.

Droid Bionic accessories contest!

It's a little early for spring cleaning, but that doesn't mean we can't find a few gems laying around. And that brings us to today's contest, which is only for owners of the Motorola Droid Bionic. We've got a bevy of accessories with someone's name on them, just waiting to be packaged up and sent out. Check the video above for instructions. Good luck!

Another look at the Galaxy Nexus car dock and HDMI station

Following on from our first look at the Verizon Galaxy Nexus's "navigation vehicle mount", mobile blog TheUnwired has a new walkthrough of the official Samsung version for the GSM Nexus, along with the new portrait-orientation charging dock with HDMI port. Unlike Verizon's vehicular mounting annex car dock, the Samsung version magically transforms the phone into car mode, with an appropriately rotated launcher, and quick settings buttons in the notification dropdown. You also get easier charging, thanks to the use of the gold charging contacts on the side of the device.

Both docking stations are expected to arrive during the first quarter of the year. More pics can be found over at the source link.

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